Thursday, November 8, 2012

1862 November 9 East New York Hospital Department

East New York
Hosp. Dept. 24th Regt. M.V.M.
Nov. 9. 1862
Dear Parents & Brother:
Thinking that perhaps
you would like to hear from me even
if I should not write but a few lines, I
have seated myself upon a box with another
box of medicines for a table for the purpose
of dropping you a word.
I suppose mother the first thing you would
like to know, is if I sleep warm, well I
am glad to inform you that I do very.
there is a large stove in the room
next the dispensary where the Steward
& I sleep & as we burn coal in this
country it keeps us warm and comfortable
all night.
I never lived so well in my life before
beef steak once & twice a day and
other things in proportion:
Work just enough to keep up good digestion.
Expect we shall have to take it by & by
Quite a number of sick ones in the Hosp.
about 35 from both Regiments the 24th & 21st

We have a matron & one female cook
and one male cook 4 nurses &c
I expected to go to Plymouth Church to
day but it has been snowing & such

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nasty, muddy, sloppy getting along
(for you ca'nt call it walking) you never saw.
We are on Long Island at the South East
Side of Brooklyn City (I guess) about eight miles
from N.T. city.
Went to the city last night night[sic] with
Lieut. True of Capt. V's Co. and attended the
theater for the first time in my life--(Wibloe's)
can not say that I want to go again.
I should like to go to a good prayer
meeting.
We shall be likely to stop here some
little time as the measles are
appearing among the soldiers.
This is a bad place for the soldiers.
Election day I went to the Hall
of one of the wards of this place.
No wonder the Democracy triumph.
under the Hall in a large room was
a bar and all kinds of liquors free
for any one who was of a mind to drink
and I need not tell you that it
was full to overflowing. [?]
placards containing the names of
the Democratic Candidates were posted
in the Hall on the fences, and
in every available place.
What effect will the election in this and
other middle states have upon the war?
Where do you thing these Maine Regts will go?
I guess we shall go to Texas.
Your affectionate Son
C. P. Morrill

Cyrus and the rest of the boys are well
Is there any one in the city you are
acquainted with who would be glad to see
your son.

About Me

The Special Collections Dept. of the University of Virginia Library holds over 25 Civil War diaries and thousands of letters of both Union and Confederate soldiers. Noted holdings include letters of Robert E. Lee, papers of "Gray Ghost" John S. Mosby and Confederate Generals Thomas L. Rosser, Elisha F. "Bull" Paxton, and Philip St. George Cocke, and William S. Hillyer of Ulysses Grant's staff.